Opel and General Motors are laying the groundwork for hybrid and electric rollouts around the world in 2010. General Motors is set to release the 2011 Chevy Volt to eager consumers in the United States in fall 2010. GM subsidiary Opel is using the Volt’s extended range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology in a new prototype called the Flextreme GT/E. This concept hybrid is making its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this week and the technology will be used in Opel models in Europe over the next few years.
The 120kW E-REV system used in the Flextreme GT/E is built around a 1.4-liter engine and a 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Opel placed the battery pack underneath the passenger seats to increase cargo capacity. The Opel Flextreme GT/E is electronically limited to a maximum speed of 124 MPH. This prototype is capable of traveling up to 37 miles using all-electric power with a combined range of 311 miles. Opel claims that the Flextreme GT/E is capable of achieving fuel mileage up to 147 MPG thanks to this advanced hybrid system. Traditionalists looking for power in their hybrid vehicles should appreciate the projected zero to 60 MPH time of nine seconds.
The centerpiece of the Opel Flextreme GT/E concept is the use of “active shape shifting” technology. Opel and General Motors are developing methods of redirecting airflow and reducing vehicle weight to increase fuel economy. This mid-sized concept incorporates side spoilers that emerge as the driver reaches speeds in excess of 30 MPH. These spoilers push the air around the rear of the Flextreme GT/E concept to cut down on wind resistance. Opel also incorporated lightweight paneling and aluminum alloy elements in the frame to decrease vehicle weight by 40%.
The Opel Flextreme GT/E concept offers tangible evidence that General Motors is poised to make headway in the green vehicle market. The 2011 Chevy Volt has been talked about so much that industry experts are already looking ahead to what is up next from GM. If the Chevy Volt is successful in the American market, we will likely see the Flextreme GT/E or a reasonable facsimile brought to the market. We need to wait and see how GM’s long-discussed hybrid performs on the road before we can venture into the field of “active shape shifting” in North America and Europe.
